Clarets land German striker Hennings

Burnley have completed a deal to sign former Germany Under 21 striker Rouwen Hennings.

The Karlsruher SC forward Rouwen Hennings flew in for talks on Wednesday over a deal which could cost between €2-3m, and discussions have reached a successful conclusion.

It had been suggested in Germany that the 27-year-old would sign in time to be available to face Birmingham City at Turf Moor tomorrow, but the noon deadline to register the player passed earlier, with international clearance also to be received yet.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche now has stern competition for places up front, starting at Leeds United last Saturday with new signing Jelle Vossen and Lukas Jutkiewicz, with Marvin Sordell and goalscorer Sam Vokes coming off the bench, while summer arrival Chris Long is also getting up to speed in terms of his fitness.

Dyche said yesterday: “We’ve got good options, that’s what you want. We’ve got a mixture.

“We’re still actively looking if we think there are people who can affect that mixture.

“You have to be productive at the top of the pitch. We like the framework of the team, the energy, the organisation. We’re generally quite secure as a unit and we do want that attacking force.

“If the right ones become available then we will add to our striking options no matter how many we’ve got. It’s about having the right ones.”

Hennings netted 18 goals in 29 games last season to finish top scorer in Bundesliga 2, helping Karlsruhe finish third.

He added a goal against Hamburg in the promotion/relegation play-off game, though Hamburg prevailed 3-2 on aggregate.

A former Germany Under 21 international, scoring 13 in 21 appearances, he featured alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and Mezut Ozil, and has attracted interest from a number of Championship clubs.

Hennings started his career with Hamburg II, where he hit 11 goals in 51 games, and after loan spells with VfL Osnabrück and St. Pauli, he joined St. Pauli in 2009, scoring 10 in 52 games.

A loan back to VfL Osnabrück brought a further five goals in 17 games, but his strikerate at Karlsruhe has been the best of his career, 37 in 95 appearances.

Meanwhile, there is no further progress with Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury, who boss Dougie Freedman is happy to call upon at home to Rotherham United tomorrow if need be.

The former Arsenal man is expected to make the switch to Turf Moor, but Freedman wants to bring in a replacement first.

Lansbury is believed to have indicated to Freedman he would like to take the opportunity to move to Turf Moor, even though he would have to take a pay cut to make it happen.

Forest are thought to be waiting for reinforcements before allowing the move to go through.